第12章

"ThenletustalkaboutEngland，"wasBettina’slightskimoverthethinice。

AredspotgrewoneachofLadyAnstruthers’cheekbonesandmadeherfadedeyeslookintense。

"LetustalkaboutAmerica，"herlittlebirdclawofahandclingingfeverishly。"IsNewYorkstill——still————"

"Itisstillthere，"Bettyansweredwithoneoftheadorablesmileswhichshowedadeepdimplenearherlip。"ButitismuchnearerEnglandthanitusedtobe。"

"Nearer！"ThehandtightenedasRosycaughtherbreath。

Bettybentrathersuddenlyandkissedher。Itwastheeasiestwayofhidingthelooksheknewhadrisentohereyes。

Shebegantotalkgaily，halflaughingly。

"Itisquitenear，"shesaid。"Don’tyourealiseit？

Americansswoopoverherebythousandseveryyear。Theycomeforbusiness，theycomeforpleasure，theycomeforrest。Theycannotkeepaway。Theycometobuyandsell——picturesandbooksandluxuriesandlands。Theycometogiveandtake。

Theyarebuildingabridgefromshoretoshoreoftheirwork，andtheirthoughts，andtheirplannings，outofthelivesandsoulsofthem。Itwillbeagreatbridgeandgreatthingswillpassoverit。"Shekissedthefadedcheekagain。ShewantedtosweepRosyawayfromthedrearinessof"it。"LadyAnstrutherslookedatherwithfaintlysmilingeyes。Shedidnotfollowallthisquitereadily，butshefeltpleasedandvaguelycomforted。

"Iknowhowtheycomehereandmarry，"shesaid。"ThenewDuchessofDownesisanAmerican。Shehadafortuneoftwomillionpounds。"

"Ifshechoosestorebuildagreathouseandagreatname，"

saidBetty，liftinghershoulderslightly，"whynot——ifitisanhonestbargain？Isupposeitispartofthebuildingofthebridge。"

LittleLadyAnstruthers，tryingtopullupthesleevesofthegauzybodiceslippingoffhersmall，sharpbones，staredatherhalfinwonderingadoration，halfinalarm。

"Betty——you——youaresohandsome——andsocleverandstrange，"shefluttered。"Oh，Betty，standupsothatIcanseehowtallandhandsomeyouare！"

Bettydidasshewastold，anduponherfeetshewasayoungwomanoflonglines，andfinecurvessoinspiringtobeholdthatLadyAnstruthersclaspedherhandstogetheronherkneesinanexcitedgesture。

"Oh，yes！Oh，yes！"shecried。"YouarejustaswonderfulasyoulookedwhenIturnedandsawyouunderthetrees。Youalmostmakemeafraid。"

"BecauseIamwonderful？"saidBetty。"ThenIwillnotbewonderfulanymore。"

"ItisnotbecauseIthinkyouwonderful，butbecauseotherpeoplewill。Wouldyourebuildagreathouse？"hesitatingly。

ThefinelineofBetty’sblackbrowsdrewitselfslightlytogether。

"No，"shesaid。

"Wouldn’tyou？"

"Howcouldthemanwhoowneditpersuademethathewasinearnestifhesaidhelovedme？HowcouldIpersuadehimthatIwasworthcaringforandnotamereambitiousfool？

Therewouldbetoomuchagainstus。"

"Againstyou？"repeatedLadyAnstruthers。

"Idon’tsayIamfair，"saidBetty。"Peoplewhoareproudareoftennotfair。Butweshouldbothofushaveseenandknowntoomuch。"

"Youhaveseenmenow，"saidLadyAnstruthersinherlistlessvoice，andatthesamemomentdinnerwasannouncedandshegotupfromthesofa，sothat，luckily，therewasnotimefortheimpersonalansweritwouldhavebeendifficulttoinventatamoment’snotice。Astheywentintothedining—

roomBettywasthinkingrestlessly。SherememberedallthematerialshehadcollectedduringhereducationinFranceandGermany，andtherewasaddedtoitthefactthatsheHAD

seenRosy，andhavingherbeforehereyesshefeltthattherewassmallprospectofhercontemplatingtherebuildingofanygreathouserequiringreconstruction。

Therewasfinepanellinginthedining—roomandagreatfireplaceandafewfamilyportraits。Theserviceuponthetablewasshabbyandthedinnerwasnotabounteousmeal。

LadyAnstruthersinhergirlish，gauzydressandlookingtoosmallforherbig，high—backedchairtriedtotalkrapidly，andeveryfewminutesforgotherselfandsankintosilence，withhereyesunconsciouslyfixeduponhersister’sface。UghtredwatchedBettyalso，andwithahungryquestioning。Theman—

servantinthewornliverywasnotasufficientlywell—trainedandexperienceddomestictomakeanyefforttokeephiseyesfromher。Hewasyoungenoughtobeexcitedbyaninnovationsounusualasthepresenceofayoungandbeautifulpersonsurroundedbyanunmistakableatmosphereofeaseandfearlessness。Hehadbeentalkingofherbelowstairsandfeltthathehadfailedindescribingher。HehadfoundhimselfbarelysupportedbythesuggestionofahousemaidthatsometimesthesedressesthatlookedplainhadbeenmadeinParisatexpensiveplacesandhadcost"alot。"Hefurtivelyexaminedthedresswhichlookedplain，andwhileheadmittedthatforsomemysteriousreasonitmightrepresentexpensiveness，itwasnotthedresswhichwasthesecretoftheeffect，butasomething，notaltogethermeregoodlooks，expressedbythewearer。Itwas，infact，thethingwhichthesecond—classpassenger，Salter，hadbeenatonceattractedandstirredtorebellionbywhenMissVanderpoelcameonboardtheMeridiana。

Bettydidnotlooktoosmallforherhigh—backedchair，andshedidnotforgetherselfwhenshetalked。Inspiteofallshehadfound，herimaginationwasstirredbythesurroundings。

Hersenseofthefinespacesandpossibilitiesofdignityinthebarrenhouse，herknowledgethatoutsidethewindowstherelaystretchedbroadviewsoftheparkanditsheavy—

branchedtrees，andthatoutsidethegatesstoodtheneglectedpicturesquenessofthevillageandalltheruraland——toher——

interestinglifeitslowlylived——thispleasedandattractedher。

IfshehadbeenashelplessanddiscouragedasRosalieshecouldseethatitwouldallhavemeantatotallydifferentanddepressingthing，but，strongandspirited，andwiththepoweroffullhands，shewasremotelyrejoicinginwhatmightbedonewithitall。Asshetalkedshewasgraduallylearningdetail。

SirNigelwasontheContinent。Apparentlyheoftenwentthere；alsoitrevealeditselfthatnooneknewatwhatmomenthemightreturn，forwhatreasonhewouldreturn，orifhewouldreturnatallduringthesummer。Itwasevidentthatnoonehadbeenatanytimeencouragedtoaskquestionsastohisintentions，ortofeelthattheyhadarighttodoso。

Thissheknew，andanumberofotherthings，beforetheyleftthetable。Whentheydidsotheywentouttostrolluponthemoss—grownstoneterraceandlistenedtothenightingalesthrowingmintotheairsilverfountainsoftrillingsong。WhenBettinapaused，leaningagainstthebalustradeoftheterracethatshemighthearallthebeautyofit，andfeelallthebeautyofthewarmspringnight，Rosywentonmakingherefforttotalk。

"Itisnotmuchofaneighbourhood，Betty，"shesaid。"Youaretooaccustomedtolivelierplacestolikeit。"

"ThatismyreasonforfeelingthatIshalllikeit。Idon’tthinkIcouldbecalledalivelyperson，andIratherhatelivelyplaces。"

"Butyouareaccustomed——accustomed————"Rosyharkedbackuncertainly。

"IhavebeenaccustomedtowishingthatIcouldcometoyou，"saidBetty。"AndnowIamhere。"

LadyAnstrutherslaidahandonherdress。

"Ican’tbelieveit！Ican’tbelieveit！"shebreathed。

"Youwillbelieveit，"saidBetty，drawingthehandaroundherwaistandenclosinginherownarmthenarrowshoulders。

"Tellmeabouttheneighbourhood。"

"Thereisn’tany，really，"saidLadyAnstruthers。"Thehousesaresofarawayfromeachother。Thenearestissixmilesfromhere，anditisonethatdoesn’tcount。

"Why？"

"Thereisnofamily，andthemanwhoownsitissopoor。

Itisabigplace，butitisfallingtopiecesasthisis。

"Whatisitcalled？"

"MountDunstan。Thepresentearlonlysucceededaboutthreeyearsago。Nigeldoesn’tknowhim。Heisqueerandnotliked。

Hehasbeenaway。"

"Where？"

"Nooneknows。ToAustraliaorsomewhere。Hehasoddideas。TheMountDunstanshavebeenawfulpeoplefortwogenerations。Thisman’sfatherwasalmostmadwithwickedness。

Sowastheelderson。Thisisasecondson，andhecameintonothingbutdebt。Perhapshefeelsthedisgraceanditmakeshimrudeandill—tempered。Hisfatherandelderbrotherhadbeeninsuchscandalsthatpeopledidnotinvitethem。

"Dotheyinvitethisman？"

"No。Heprobablywouldnotgototheirhousesiftheydid。Andhewentawaysoonafterhecameintothetitle。"

"Istheplacebeautiful？"

"Thereisafinedeerpark，andthegardenswerewonderfulalongtimeago。Thehouseisworthlookingat——outside。"

"Iwillgoandlookatit，"saidBetty。

"Thecarriageisoutoforder。ThereisonlyUghtred’scart。"

"Iamagoodwalker，"saidBetty。

"Areyou？Itwouldbetwelvemiles——thereandback。WhenIwasinNewYorkpeopledidn’twalkmuch，particularlygirls。"

"Theydonow，"Bettyanswered。"TheyhavelearnedtodoitinEngland。Theyliveoutofdoorsandplaygames。

Theyhavegrownathleticandtall。"

Astheytalkedthenightingalessang，sometimesnear，sometimesinthedistance，andscentsofdewygrassandleavesandearthwerewaftedtowardsthem。Sometimestheystrolledupanddowntheterrace，sometimestheypausedandleanedagainstthestonebalustrade。BettyallowedRosytotalkasshechose。Sheherselfaskednoobviouslyleadingquestionsandpassedovertryingmomentswithlightness。Herdesirewastoplaceherselfinapositionwhereshemighthearthethingswhichwouldaidhertodrawconclusions。LadyAnstruthersgraduallygrewlessnervousandafraidofhersubjects。Inthewonderoftheluxuryoftalkingtosomeonewholistenedwithsympathy，sheonceortwicealmostforgotherselfandmaderevelationsshehadnotintendedtomake。Shehadoftenthemannerofapersonwhowasafraidofbeingoverheard；

sometimes，evenwhenshewasmakingspeechesquitesimpleinthemselves，hervoicedroppedandsheglancedfurtivelyasideasiftherewerechancesthatsomethingshedreadedmightstepoutoftheshadow。

Whentheywentupstairstogetherandpartedforthenight，theclingingofRosy’sembracewasforamomentalmostconvulsive。

Butshetriedtolaughoffitssuggestionofintensity。

"IheldyoutightsothatIcouldfeelsurethatyouwererealandwouldnotmeltaway，"shesaid。"Ihopeyouwillbehereinthemorning。"

"Ishallneverreallygoquiteawayagain，nowIhavecome，"

Bettyanswered。"ItisnotonlyyourhouseIhavecomeinto。

Ihavecomebackintoyourlife。"

Aftershehadenteredherroomandlockedthedoorshesatdownandwrotealettertoherfather。Itwasalongletter，butaclearone。Shepaintedadefiniteanddetailedpictureandmadedistinctherchiefpoint。

"Sheisafraidofme，"shewrote。"Thatisthefirstandworstobstacle。SheisactuallyafraidthatIwilldosomethingwhichwillonlyaddtohertrouble。Shehaslivedunderdominionsolongthatshehasforgottenthattherearepeoplewhohavenoreasonforfear。Heroldlifeseemsnothingbutadream。ThefirstthingImustteachheristhatIamtobetrustednottodofutilethings，andthatsheneedneitherbeafraidofnorforme。"

Afterwritingthesesentencesshefoundherselfleavingherdeskandwalkingupanddowntheroomtorelieveherself。

Shecouldnotsitstill，becausesuddenlythebloodranfastandhotthroughherveins。Sheputherhandsagainsthercheeksandlaughedalittle，lowlaugh。

"Ifeelviolent，"shesaid。"IfeelviolentandImustgetoverit。Thisisrage。Rageisworthnothing。"

Itwasrage——therageofsplendidhotbloodwhichsurgedinanswertoleapinghotthoughts。Therewouldhavebeenasortofluxuryingivingwaytotheswayofit。Buttheself—

indulgencewouldhavebeennoaidtofutureaction。Ragewasworthnothing。ShesaiditasthefirstReubenVanderpoelmighthavesaidofauselessbutglitteringweapon。"Thisgunisworthnothing，"andcastitaside。

CHAPTERXIV

INTHEGARDENS

Shecameoutuponthestoneterraceagainratherearlyinthemorning。Shewantedtowanderaboutinthefirstfreshnessoftheday，whichwasalwaysanupliftingthingtoher。Shewantedtoseethedewonthegrassandontheraggedflowerbordersandtohearthetender，brokenflutingofbirdsinthetrees。Onecuckoowascallingtoanotherinthepark，andshestoppedandlistenedintently。Untilyesterdayshehadneverheardacuckoocall，anditshollowmellownessgaveherdelight。ItmeantthespringinEngland，andnowhereelse。

Therewasspaceenoughtorambleaboutinthegardens。

Pathsandbedswerealikeovergrownwithweeds，butsomestrong，early—bloomingthingswerefightingforlife，refusingtobestrangled。Againstthebeautifuloldredwalls，overwhichagehadstolenwithawonderfulgreybloom，venerablefruittreeswerespreadandnailed，andhereandthereshowedbloom，clumpsoflow—growingthingssturdilyadvancedtheiryellownessorwhiteness，asifdefyingneglect。Inoneplaceawallslantedandthreatenedtofall，bearingitsnectarinetreeswithit；inanothertherewasagapsoevidentlynotofto—daythattheheapofitsmasonryupontheborderbedwasalreadycoveredwithgreenery，andtherootsofthefruittreeithadsupportedhadsentupstrong，insistentshoots。

Shepasseddownbroadpathsandnarrowones，sometimeswalkingundertrees，sometimespushingherwaybetweenencroachingshrubs；shedescendeddelightfulmossyandbrokenstepsandcameupondilapidatedurns，inwhichweedsgrewinsteadofflowers，andoverwhichrampantbutlovely，savagelittlecreepersclamberedandclung。

Inoneofthewalledkitchengardensshecameuponanelderlygardeneratwork。Atthesoundofherapproachingstepsheglancedroundandthenstoodup，touchinghisforelockinrespectfulbutstartledsalute。Hewassoplainlyamazedatthesightofherthatsheexplainedherself。

"Good—morning，"shesaid。"Iamherladyship’ssister，MissVanderpoel。Icameyesterdayevening。Iamlookingoveryourgardens。"

Hetouchedhisforeheadagainandlookedroundhim。Hismannerwasnotcheerful。Hecastatroubledeyeabouthim。

"They’renotmuchtosee，miss，"hesaid。"They’doughttobe，butthey’renot。Growingthingshastobefedandtookcareof。

Amanandaboycan’tdoit——noryetfourorfiveof’em。"

"Howmanyoughttheretobe？"Bettyinquired，withbusiness—likedirectness。Itwasnotonlythedewonthegrassshehadcomeouttosee。

"Iftherewaseightortenofuswemightputitinorderandkeepitthatway。It’sabigplace，miss。"

Bettylookedaboutherashehaddone，butwithalessdiscouragedeye。

"Itisabeautifulplace，aswellasalargeone，"shesaid。

"Icanseethatthereoughttobemoreworkers。"

"There’snoone，"saidthegardener，"ashasasmanyenemiesasagardener，an’asmanythingstofight。There’sgrubsan’there’sgreenfly，an’there’sdrout’，an’wetan’cold，an’mildew，an’

there’swhatthesoilwantsandstarveswithout，an’ifyouhaven’tgotitnoryethandsan’feetan’toolsenough，how’sthingstofeed，an’fightan’live——letaloneblooman’bear？"

"Idon’tknowmuchaboutgardens，"saidMissVanderpoel，"butIcanunderstandthat。"

Thescentoffreshbedewedthingswasintheair。Itwastruethatshehadnotknownmuchaboutgardens，butherestandinginthemidstofoneshebegantoawakentoanew，practicalinterest。Acreatureofinitiativecouldnotletsuchaplaceasthisalone。Itwasbeautybeingslowlyslain。Onecouldnotpassitbyanddonothing。

"Whatisyourname？"sheasked"Kedgers，miss。I’veonlybeenhereaboutatwelve—month。

IwastookonbecauseI’mgettingoninyearsan’can’taskmuchwage。"

"Canyousparetimetotakemethroughthegardensandshowmethings？"

Yes，hecoulddoit。Intruth，heprivatelywelcomedanopportunityofferingaprospectofexcitementsonovel。Hehadshownmoreflourishinggardenstootheryoungladiesinhispastyearsofservice，butyoungladiesdidnotcometoStornham，andthatonehaving，withsuchextraordinaryunexpectednessarrived，shouldwanttolookoverthedesolationofthese，wascuriousenoughtorouseanyonetoasenseofabreakinaccustomedmonotony。Theyoungladyherselfmystifiedhimbyherdifferencefromsuchothersashehadseen。

Whatthemanintheshabbyliveryhadfelt，hefeltalso，andaddedtothiswasasenseofthepracticalnessofthequestionssheaskedandtheinterestsheshowedandawayshehadofseemingsingularlytosuggestbythelookinhereyesandthetoneofhervoicethatnothingwasnecessarilywithoutremedy。

Whenherladyshipwalkedthroughtheplaceandlookedatthings，apaleresignationexpresseditselfintheverydroopofherfigure。Whenthisonewalkedthroughthetumbled—downgrape—houses，potting—shedsandconservatories，shesawwhereglasswasbroken，wherebencheshadfallenandwhereroofssaggedandleaked。Sheinquiredabouttheheatingapparatusandaskedthatshemightseeit。Sheaskedaboutthevillageanditsresources，aboutlabourersandtheirwages。

"Asif，"commentedKedgersmentally，"shewaswhatSirNigelis——leastwayswhathe’doughttobean’ain’t。"

Sheledthewaybacktothefallenwallandstoodandlookedatit。

"It’sabeautifuloldwall，"shesaid。"Itshouldberebuiltwiththeoldbrick。Newwouldspoilit。"

"Someofthisisbrokenandcrumbledaway，"saidKedgers，pickingupapiecetoshowittoher。

"Perhapsoldbrickcouldbeboughtsomewhere，"repliedtheyoungladyspeculatively。"OneoughttobeabletobuyoldbrickinEngland，ifoneiswillingtopayforit。"

Kedgersscratchedhisheadandgazedatherinrespectfulwonderwhichwasalmosttrouble。Whowasgoingtopayforthings，andwhowasgoingtolookforthingswhichwerenotonthespot？Enterpriselikethiswasnottobeexplained。

Whenshelefthimhestoodandwatchedheruprightfiguredisappearthroughtheivy—growndoorofthekitchengardenswithadisturbedbutelatedexpressiononhiscountenance。Hedidnotknowwhyhefeltelated，buthewasconsciousofelation。Somethingnewhadwalkedintotheplace。Hestoppedhisworkandgrinnedandscratchedhisheadseveraltimesafterhewentbacktohispotteringamongthecabbageplants。

"Myword，"hemuttered。"She’safine，straightyoungwoman。Ifshewasherladyshipthings’udbedifferent。SirNigel’udbedifferent，too——orthere’dbesomefineupsets。"

Therewasahugestableyard，andBettypassedthroughthatonherwayback。Thedoorofthecarriagehousewasopenandshesawtwoorthreetumbled—downvehicles。Onewasalandauwithawheeloff，onewasashabby，old—fashioned，lowphaeton。Shecaughtsightofapatentlyvenerablecobinoneofthestables。Thestallsnearhimwereempty。

"Isupposethatisalltheyhavetodependupon，"shethought。"Andthestablesarelikethegardens。"

ShefoundLadyAnstruthersandUghtredwaitingforherupontheterrace，eachofthemregardingherwithanexpressionsuggestiveofrepressedcuriosityassheapproached。LadyAnstruthersflushedalittleandwenttomeetherwithaneagerkiss。

"Youlooklike——Idon’tknowquitewhatyoulooklike，Betty！"sheexclaimed。

Thegirl’sdimpledeepenedandhereyessaidsmilingthings。

"Itisthemorning——andyourgardens，"sheanswered。"I

havebeenroundyourgardens。"

"Theywerebeautifulonce，Isuppose，"saidRosydeprecatingly。

"Theyarebeautifulnow。ThereisnothingliketheminAmericaatleast。"

"Idon’trememberanygardensinAmerica，"LadyAnstruthersownedreluctantly，"buteverythingseemedsocheerfulandwellcaredforand——andnew。Don’tlaugh，Betty。I

havebeguntolikenewthings。Youwouldifyouhadwatchedoldonestumblingtopiecesfortwelveyears。"

"Theyoughtnottobeallowedtotumbletopieces，"saidBetty。Sheaddedhernextwordswithsimpledirectness。Shecouldonlydiscoverhowanyadvancingstepswouldbetakenbytakingthem。"Whydoyouallowthemtodoit？"

LadyAnstrutherslookedaway，butasshelookedhereyespassedUghtred’s。

"I！"shesaid。"Therearesomanyotherthingstodo。

Itwouldcostsomuch——suchanenormitytokeepitallinorder。"

"Butitoughttobedone——forUghtred’ssake。"

"Iknowthat，"falteredRosy，"butIcan’thelpit。"

"Youcan，"answeredBetty，andsheputherarmroundherastheyturnedtoenterthehouse。"WhenyouhavebecomemoreusedtomeandmydrivingAmericanwaysIwillshowyouhow。"

ThelightnesswithwhichshesaidithadanoddeffectonLadyAnstruthers。Suchcasualreadinesswassofullofthesuggestionofunheardofpossibilitiesthatitwasakindofshock。

"Ihavebeentwelveyearsingettingun—usedtoyou——Ifeelasifitwouldtaketwelveyearsmoretogetusedagain，"shesaid。

"Itwon’ttaketwelveweeks，"saidBetty。

CHAPTERXV

THEFIRSTMAN

ThemysteryoftheapparentlyoccultmethodsofcommunicationamongthenativesofIndia，betweenwhom，itissaid，newsfliesbymeanstoostrangeandsubtletobehumanlyexplainable，isnomoredifficultaproblemtosolvethanthatofthelightningrapiditywithwhichaknowledgeofthetranspiringofanynewlocaleventdartsthroughtheslowest，and，asfarasoutwardsignsgo，theleastcommunicativeEnglishvillageslumberingdrowsilyamongitspasturesandtrees。

ThatwhichtheHallorManorHousebelievedlastnight，knownonlytothefourwallsofitsdrawing—room，isdiscussedoverthecottagebreakfasttablesasthoughpresentedindetailthroughthecolumnsoftheMorningPost。Thevicarage，thesmithy，thepostoffice，thelittleprovisionshop，areinstantaneouslyinformedasbymagicofsuchincidentsofinterestasoccur，andarepreparedtoassistvicariouslyatanyfuturedevelopments。Throughwhatagencyinformationisgivennoonecantell，and，indeed，theagencyisofsmallmoment。Factsofinterestareperhapslikeflightsofswallowsanddartchatteringfromoneredrooftoanother，proclaimingthemselvesaloud。Nothingissotrueasthatinsuchvillagestheyarethepropertyandinnocentplaythingsofman，woman，andchild，providingconversationanddramaotherwiselikelytobelacked。

WhenMissVanderpoelwalkedthroughStornhamvillagestreetshebecameawarethatshewasanexcitingobjectofinterest。Facesappearedatcottagewindows，womensaunteredtodoors，meninthetaproomoftheClockInnleftbeermugstocastaneyeonher；childrenpushedopengatesandstaredastheybobbedtheircurtsies；theyoungwomanwhokepttheshoplefthercounterandcameoutuponherdoorsteptopickupherstrayingbabyandglanceoveritsshoulderatthefacewiththeredmouth，andthemassofblackhairrolledupwardunderaroughbluestrawhat。Everyoneknewwhothisexotic—lookingyoungladywas。ShehadarrivedyesterdayfromLondon，andaweekagobymeansofashipfromfar—awayAmerica，fromthecountryinconnectionwithwhichtheruralmindcuriouslymixeduplargewages，greatfortunesandIndians。"Gaarge"Lunsden，havingspentfiveyearsofhisyouthlabouringheavilyforsixteenshillingsaweek，hadgoneto"Meriker"andhadearnedthereeightshillingsaday。Thiswasawell—knownandmuch—talkedoverfact，andhadelevatedthewesterncontinenttoapositionoftrustandimportanceithadseriouslylackedbeforetheemigrationofLunsden。Aplacewhereamancouldearneightshillingsadayinspiredinterestaswellasconfidence。WhenSirNigel’swifehadarrivedtwelveyearsagoasthenewLadyAnstruthers，thestorythatsheherself"hadmoney"hadbeenverifiedbyherfineclothesandherwayofhandingoutsovereignsincaseswheretherestofthegentry，iftheygaveatall，wouldhavebestowedteaandflannelorshillings。Therehadbeenforafewmonthsaperiodofunheardofwell—beinginStornhamvillage；everyonerememberedthehundredpoundsthebridehadgiventopoorWilsonwhenhisplacehadburneddown，butthevillagehadofcourselearned，byitsoccultmeans，thatSirNigelandtheDowagerhadbeenangryandthattherehadbeenaquarrel。Afterwardsherladyshiphadbeendangerouslyill，thebabyhadbeenbornahunchback，andayearhadpassedbeforeitsmotherhadbeenseenagain。Sincethenshehadbeenachangedcreature；shehadlostherlooksandseemedtocarefornothingbutthechild。Stornhamvillagesawnexttonothingofher，anditcertainlywasnotshewhohadthedispensingofherfortune。RumoursaidSirNigellivedhighinLondonandforeignparts，buttherewasnohighlivingattheCourt。Herladyship’sfamilyhadneverbeennearher，andbeliefinthemandtheirwealthalmostceasedtoexist。

Iftheywererich，Stornhamfeltthatitwastheirbusinesstomendroofsandwindowsandnotallowchimneysandkitchenboilerstofallintoruin，thesimple，leadingarticleoffaithbeingthatevenAmericanmoneybelongedproperlytoEngland。